Open Access Research Article

FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS: EVIDENCE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Author(s):
ARUN ANTIL UTTKARSH TYAGI
Journal IJLRA
ISSN 2582-6433
Access Open Access
Volume 3
Issue 8
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Abstract

Footprints and shoeprints are among the most common traces left at crime scenes, yet they are often overlooked because they are faint, partial or on ordinary surfaces. This paper reviews how footprint evidence is classified, recovered, analysed and reported, drawing on a set of recent studies and standards. It finds that modern 3D scanning can document impressions with sub-millimetre repeatability, that barefoot measurements can estimate stature and foot size but only within stated error margins, and that examiner conclusions vary with impression quality. A 2022 black-box study of 84 footwear examiners illustrates the point: erroneous identifications were 0.2% of nonmated comparisons, while erroneous exclusions were 6.0% of mated ones. The paper concludes that footprint evidence is most defensible when conclusions are graded, limitations are stated, and claims of absolute identification are avoided.  

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Author Details

Authors: ARUN ANTIL & UTTKARSH TYAGIRegistration ID: 1013568 | Published Paper ID: IJLRA13568 & IJLRA13569Approved ISSN: 2582-6433 | Country: Delhi, India

Article Information

FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS: EVIDENCE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Authors: ARUN ANTIL, UTTKARSH TYAGI

  • Journal IJLRA
  • ISSN 2582-6433
  • Volume 3
  • Issue 8
Citation Download Paper Full Details Search on Google Search on Google Scholar

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International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis

  • AbbreviationIJLRA
  • ISSN2582-6433
  • AccessOpen Access
  • LicenseCC 4.0

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